Brudov, Martirosyan back 6/27!

Huge boxing evening in Le Cannet

By Alexey Sukachev

Two world-ranked Russian fighters will make their return to the ring this Saturday night in the beautiful Mediterranean city of Le Cannet on French Riviera. Middleweight Gennady Martirosyan (17-1, 6 KOs) is set to test unbeaten Cameroonian sensation Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (19-0, 13 KOs), while WBA #1 and WBO #9 cruiserweight Valery Brudov (37-2, 27 KOs) will participate in a tune-up six-rounder against ever dangerous TBA. The “WBA Boxing Night”, promoted by Michel Acaries’ “AMI Productions” at La Palestre boxing hall, will be headlined by a grudge rematch between heavyweight-turned-cruiserweight Steve Herelius (17-1-1, 11 KOs), 32, and ex-European champion Jean-Marc Monrose (24-3, 15 KOs), five years his younger. The twelve-round fight is billed as a WBA semifinal eliminator at 200lbs and also for the vacant WBA intercontinental title. Both boxers has already collided this March, Herelius (WBO #11 and WBA #12) taking a narrow ten-round majority decision.

25-year old Cameroonian ex-Olympian N’Dam N’Jikam (WBA #10 and WBO #11) is being touted as one of the finest middleweight prospects in the world today. The winner of last year Le Grand Tournoi was earlier scheduled to face former world title challenger Mariano Natalio Carrera of Argentina but that collision was scratched after the Argentinean had suffered an injury during his training camp. WBA/WBO #12 Gennady Martirosyan, who currently owns the PABA 160lb belt, was here and now to replace Carrera. Martirosyan, 29 and also the national champion, is a heavily-built little banger, who uses his physical strength to run over his foes. “It’s a can’t-miss fight for us”, said Jab Promotions’ vice-president Alexadner Yagupov. “If Gennady wants to make a splash in world ranks, he must take care of this uneasy business. It’s a hard task but that is what boxing is all about. If Martirosyan is victorious on Saturday, we are expecting a huge leap up in ranks for him”. The status of N’Dam N’Jikam – Martirosyan fight is to be finally defined later this week; WBA middleweight eliminator being one of the possibilities.

Immensely active French light heavyweight champion Nadjib Mohammedi (18-0, 8 KOs) will make the fifth defense of his title in just a single year against Jose Tavares (12-3, 4 KOs). This fight is scheduled for ten rounds.

In a devastating cross-roader two of the best France-based heavyweights will decide who is the last man standing, when local ex-kickboxing master Gregory Tony (10-0, 9 KOs) and Cameroonian native Carlos Takam (18-0, 14 KOs) collide in an eight-rounder.